We begin with daunting announcements by the Government of the Virgin Islands that the COVID-19 vaccine roll out has been halted in the Virgin Islands due to a delay in vaccines arriving from the UK. This announcement was made last evening by the Minister of Health Hon. Carvin Malone on the VIP radio Program. Malone said in a radio announcement and I quote: “We have the situation where we have now reached to where the other shipment was due in on 3 March and it is now being delayed to the 17th. So we made a promise to everyone taking it that we would have the second dose reserved. When the other shipment arrives we will then disperse, and we will continue in that regard so that anyone taking it will not risk for any reason this being done.
The government of the Virgin Islands has made a decision that they would stop administering vaccines because they want all the people who got the first dose to have their second dose available at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister has assured residents that the promised shipments will arrive but is seemingly operating as thou they will not, with the choice of vaccinating an additional 4,000 and allowing as many persons as possible to receive the first dose vs giving the remaining vaccines to the persons that have already received the first dose.
Now to date, some 4,450 persons has been vaccinated in the territory from the UK’s first shipment.
This announcement has caused quite a stir and upset among residents and visitors. One prominent businessman has penned a stern letter to the Hon. Carvin Malone expressing his disgust over the decision. A group of concerned business persons are said to be meeting as the situation is not appreciated by residents.
Many residents are calling this decision unethical and unrealistic and does not serve the best interest of all Virgin Islanders. More to come as the story develops.